No hike in power tariff in MP for 2014-15

To strike a balance between consumers and loss making power discoms (distribution companies), Madhya Pradesh Regulatory Commission has maintained prevailing power tariff in all category consumers. Although power utilities had put up an aggregate revenue requirement of Rs 23,178 crore, the commission has admitted to the tune of Rs 22,041 crore.

The commission has also admitted distribution losses for financial year 2014-15 as per loss level trajectory prescribed in the regulation; 20 per cent for east zone distribution company (23 per cent during 2013-14), 18 per cent (20 per cent during 2013-14) for West Zone company, 21 per cent (23 per cent during 2013-14) for Central zone company.

"Based on likely income and projected loss-levels presented by the petitioner discom companies, the commission has decided to keep the tariff stagnant in 2014-15 too," Rakesh Sahni, Chairman of the commission said.

The regulatory commission has, however hinted that power distribution companies may reduce power tariff in future provided they manage retail power distribution properly. The stagnation in power tariff will give them enough room to churn the required aggregate revenue.

To give more relief to consumers, where reports of harassment surfaced on power theft cases, the commission has directed the discoms that unless the meter is found defective or dysfunctional or tampered or evidence of theft of energy in the premises is established, no consumer should be billed on the basis of any kind of assessment of consumption other than the consumption that is recorded in the meter.

This tariff applicable for light, fan and power for residential use only in places like dharamshalas, old age homes, day care centres for senior citizens, rescue houses, orphanages, places of worship and religious institutions and for the metered connections the charges remains the same at Rs 290 per month up to 30 units.

Under telescopic slab the power tariff are stagnant at Rs 340 per month up to 50 units and Rs 385 up to 50-100 units of consumption.

In terms of voltage wise cost of supply comes at Rs 5.02 per unit in the state for domestic consumers while the same is Rs 4.31 per unit for high tension consumers like Railways, coal mines, industries, irrigation, bulk residential units, agriculture and other non-industrial activities.